FORMER Tranmere midfielder Jason Price believes he may well visit Prenton Park again next season - as he feels both Hull and Rovers will be in the Championship.

The Welsh playmaker, who moved to Humberside in 2003, made a memorable return to Wirral at the weekend, scoring the Tigers' second goal in the 3-1 victory over Brian Little's side, the win opening up a seven-point gap over third-placed Rovers.

Saturday's result was a major set-back to Tranmere's push for one of the two automatic promotion spots, but 27-year-old Price is confident that Rovers have enough quality in their side to clinch promotion via the play-offs.

Price said: "I'd like to see Tran-mere go up via the play-offs and I think they are capable of doing it. They are a strong team with plenty of experience which will serve them well."

But although Price feels his former team-mates can overcome this latest setback and push for promotion, he is more concerned with Hull's prospects as they prepare to take on play-off contenders Hartlepool in tonight's crucial meeting at the KC Stadium.

He added: "The win at Tranmere was a massive one for us because it opened up a seven-point gap.

"The pressure is off a little bit now. People are talking about a target of 84 points to get automatic promotion and we are moving closer all the time."

Price was a suprise inclusion in Hull's starting line-up on Saturday having been used spar-ingly this season by boss Peter Taylor.

The home supporters, however, are unlikely to have been surprised to see Price hitting the target as he was extremely influential in his first season at Prenton Park, often playing as a striker.

He said: " Maybe I got picked against Tranmere on the basis of horses for courses. It does seem to happen a lot when players go back to their old clubs, they score against them.

"I felt I struggled a little bit in the first half but in the second half I came out of my shell and I thought I did well.